Thematic Bible




Thematic Bible



For as many of you who were baptized into Christ put on (clothed yourselves with) Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one (united) in Christ Jesus. (John 17:21) (Ephesians 4:4-6)

John said: Master we saw some one casting out demons in your name. So we prevented him from doing this because he does not follow us. Jesus said: Do not forbid him for he that is not against you is for you.

John spoke up: Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in your name. We tried to stop him because he does not follow us. But Jesus said: Do not stop him, for there is no one who will do a mighty work in my name, and be able quickly to speak evil of me. For whoever is not against us is on our side. read more.
Whoever will give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you are Christ's, most assuredly I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward.

Since God gave them the same gift as he gave to us who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could oppose God? When they heard this they objected no more and praised God, saying: God has granted the people of the nations repentance to life.

Some men came down from Judea to teach the brothers. They said: You cannot be saved unless you become circumcised according to the custom of Moses. Paul and Barnabas had an intense (harsh) dispute and debate with them. They concluded that Paul, Barnabas, and others should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders to settle this question. The congregation sent them on their way. They passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the nations. They brought great joy to all the brothers. read more.
Then they went to Jerusalem where the apostles and elders and congregation greeted them. They declared all the things that God had done for them. The believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stated: It is needed to circumcise them and to command them to keep the Law of Moses. The apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. After much discussion Peter got up and said: Men and brothers you know that God made a choice among us, that I would preach the good news to the nations that they may hear and believe. God knows their hearts and showed that he accepted them by giving them Holy Spirit just as he did to us. He made no distinction between them and us and purified their hearts by faith. Why do you test God by placing a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, one that our fathers were not able to bear? We believe we are saved through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, as they also are. The crowd kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul. They declared the miracles and wonders God performed through them among the people of the nations. When they finished talking James said: Brothers listen to me: Simeon declared how God first visited the nations to take out of them a people for his name. The words of the prophets agree to this for it is written: I will return and will build again the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down. I will rebuild its ruins. I will restore it. (Amos 9:11,12) That the rest of mankind might seek after Jehovah, and all the nations, upon whom my name is called, Jehovah said, who is doing these things. (Amos 9:12) Known to God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Therefore it is my decision not to trouble those of the nations who have turned to God. We should write to them that they should abstain from things polluted by idols, from fornication, from things strangled and from blood. Moses has been preached in the synagogues from old times until now every Sabbath day. The apostles and elders along with the whole congregation desired to send chosen men to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers. They wrote letters as follows: The apostles, elders and brothers send greeting to the brothers who are of the nations in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia. Since we have heard, that certain ones who went out from us have troubled you with speeches, subverting you, saying: You must be circumcised, and keep the law. We gave no such commandment! It seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul. These men have endangered their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things in person. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things. You should abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication. If you keep yourselves from these you will do well. Farwell (best wishes). So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch and when they had gathered the crowd together, they delivered the letter. When they read it they rejoiced over the encouragement.

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, appointed (set apart) for the good news of God, He promised this long ago through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures. This is about his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who came from the seed of David according to the flesh. read more.
He was declared to be the Son of God with power through the Spirit of Holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord. Through whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, respecting his name. You are among those called to Jesus Christ. To all who are in Rome, beloved of God and called to be holy ones: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I am a debtor both to the Greeks, and to the barbarians, both to the wise, and to the unwise. I am ready to preach the good news to you in Rome also. I am not ashamed of the good news; for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who exerts active faith (believes), to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

No flesh will be justified before God by works of the law. Knowledge of sin comes from the law. But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets. God makes people righteous through their active faith in Jesus Christ. God does this to all who believe in Christ, because there is no difference at all. read more.
For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God being justified freely by his grace (as a gift) through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God displayed Christ publicly as propitiation (atonement) by his blood through faith. It demonstrated his righteousness. It was through the forbearance of God that he passed by the sins that had taken place before. It showed his righteousness at this present season that he might himself be righteous, and the justifier of he who has faith in Jesus. Where is the boasting? It is excluded. Is it by law? Is it by works? No, it is by a principle of faith. We reason therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. Or is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not the God of the nations also? Yes, of the nations also. If God is one he will justify the circumcised by faith, and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we nullify the law through faith? No we do not! In fact, we establish (continue) (stand by) (uphold) the law.

We are justified (acquitted) (made righteous) by faith. And we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have access to grace (God's favor) by faith through him. This is where we stand. We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

For he is our peace, who made both (Jews and Gentiles) one, and broke down the middle barrier of partition. Christ abolished in his flesh the enmity (ill will), which the law of commandments contained in ordinances. That [way] he might create one new man, out of the two, with himself establishing peace. So he reconciled them both in one body to God through the stake. He put to death the enmity (antagonism) (hostility). read more.
He came and preached peace to you who were far off, and peace to those who were near.

There is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman; but Christ is all and in all. As God's chosen, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness (humility), meekness (mildness), and long-suffering (patience). Tolerate (endure) (suffer) (put up with) one another, and forgive each other. If any man has a complaint against anyone, forgive them, even as God forgave you. read more.
Above all these things, put on love, which is the bond of perfection and unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. You were called in one body for this purpose. You be thankful.








We have in him our redemption and the forgiveness of our sins.

Know that you were redeemed from your futile way of life inherited from your fathers. [The redemption] was not with corruptible things like silver or gold,




even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ. For by grace (loving-kindness) you have been saved.

But the two are not the same, because God's gift (spiritual endowment) is not like Adam's sin. It is true that many people died because of the sin of that one man. But God's grace is much greater, and so is his gift to so many people through the loving-kindness of the one man, Jesus Christ.

If it is by grace then it is no longer on the basis of works. Otherwise grace is not grace (undeserved kindness). But if it is of works then it is not by grace. Otherwise works are no longer works.






even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ. For by grace (loving-kindness) you have been saved.

But the two are not the same, because God's gift (spiritual endowment) is not like Adam's sin. It is true that many people died because of the sin of that one man. But God's grace is much greater, and so is his gift to so many people through the loving-kindness of the one man, Jesus Christ.

If it is by grace then it is no longer on the basis of works. Otherwise grace is not grace (undeserved kindness). But if it is of works then it is not by grace. Otherwise works are no longer works.









Paul said: John baptized with the baptism of repentance. He told the people they should believe in Jesus, the one who came after John.





Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to you all that are in Christ.


Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither fornicators, nor people who worship idols, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor covetous (greedy), nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortionists, will inherit the kingdom of God. That is what some of you were. You have been washed clean and now you are sanctified. The Spirit of our God declares you righteous in the name of the Lord Jesus.

For we also once were foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. When the kindness of God our Savior, and his love toward man, appeared, not by works done in righteousness, which we did, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration (restoration) (spiritual rebirth) and renewing (renovation) of the Holy Spirit. read more.
He poured Spirit out upon us richly, through Jesus Christ our Savior. Being justified by his grace (loving kindness), we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

THIS IS THE PEOPHESY ABOUT THE MESSIAH. Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm (power) of Jehovah been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him. Nothing in his appearance will make us desire him. He was despised and rejected by men. He was a man of sorrows familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised. We did not consider him to be worth much. read more.
He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows. We considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions! He was crushed for our iniquities! The punishment that brought us peace was upon him. There has been healing for us because of his wounds. We are all like sheep. We have gone astray! Each of us has turned to his own way. Jehovah has caused the iniquity (sin) of all of us to be laid on him. He was oppressed and afflicted and yet he did not open his mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. He was silent like sheep ready to be sheared. He did not open his mouth. He was oppressed, judged and taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? He was removed from the land of the living. He was destroyed because of the transgression of my people. He was buried like a criminal in a rich mans grave. He had done no wrong, nor was any deceit in his mouth. It was Jehovah's will to allow him to be crushed. Even though Jehovah makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of Jehovah will prosper in his hand. After his suffering he will see the light and be satisfied. By his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many. He will bear their iniquities.

God has fulfilled this promise to their children by resurrecting Jesus. Just as it is written in the second psalm: You are my Son, today I have become your father. (Psalms 2:7) He raised him up from the dead, never to decay. It is stated in these words: I will give you the sure blessings promised David. (Isaiah 55:3) He said in another psalm: You will not allow your Holy One to see decay. (Ps 16:10) read more.
After David served his own generation by doing the will of God he died and was buried with his fathers. His body decayed. But he (Jesus), whom God raised again, saw no decay. You should know, men and brothers that it is through this man Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him all who believe are justified from all things. You could not be justified through the Law of Moses.

For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God being justified freely by his grace (as a gift) through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

While we were yet weak, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die. Perhaps for the good man some one would even dare to die. But God demonstrates (commends) his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. read more.
Much more, now justified by his blood, we will be saved from the wrath of God through him. While we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son. Being reconciled, we will be saved by his life. We also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation (restoration) (atonement) (divine favor). Therefore, through one-man sin entered into the world, and death through sin. So death passed to all men, for all have sinned. Until the law sin was in the world. Sin is not imputed (put on account) when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even for those who had not sinned after the likeness of Adam's transgression. Adam is in some ways like Christ who came later. But the two are not the same, because God's gift (spiritual endowment) is not like Adam's sin. It is true that many people died because of the sin of that one man. But God's grace is much greater, and so is his gift to so many people through the loving-kindness of the one man, Jesus Christ. And there is a difference between God's gift (spiritual endowment) and the sin of one man. After the one sin, came the guilty judgment; but after so many sins, comes the undeserved gift of righteousness. It was by the transgression of the one that death ruled as king through that one. Even more so shall those who receive the abundance of grace, and of the gift of righteousness, rule as kings in life by the one, Jesus Christ. The result of one trespass was condemnation for all men. The result of righteousness was justification (acquittal), which brings life for all men. Through the disobedience of one man many have been made sinners. Yet through the obedience of one man many will be made righteous.

Yet we know that a man is not righteous by the works of the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ. We believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be righteous by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law. The works of the law justify no one. We sought to be righteous in Christ. And we were found to be sinners. Is Christ a minister of sin? God forbid. If I build up again the things that I destroyed, I prove myself a transgressor. read more.
I, through the law, died to the law that I might live to (for) God. I have been impaled with Christ. It is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me. The life that I now live in the flesh (physical body) I live by faith. This is the faith that is in the Son of God. He loved me and gave himself up for me.

He also said: I come to do your will, O God. He takes away the first in order to establish the second. We are sanctified by his will through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Every priest stands daily, serving and offering time after time the same sacrifices. Yet they can never take away sins. read more.
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting until his enemies are placed as a stool for his feet. With one offering he has perfected those who are sanctified forever.



For this reason it is by faith that it may be according to grace (divine influence) (loving-kindness). The promise may be sure to all descendants! This is not only to that which is of the law, but to that also which is by the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.

It was by the transgression of the one that death ruled as king through that one. Even more so shall those who receive the abundance of grace, and of the gift of righteousness, rule as kings in life by the one, Jesus Christ. The result of one trespass was condemnation for all men. The result of righteousness was justification (acquittal), which brings life for all men. Through the disobedience of one man many have been made sinners. Yet through the obedience of one man many will be made righteous. read more.
The law came that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased God's loving kindness increased even more. And what for? Just as sin reigned in death, even so might grace reign through righteousness to everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord.








We have in him our redemption and the forgiveness of our sins.

Know that you were redeemed from your futile way of life inherited from your fathers. [The redemption] was not with corruptible things like silver or gold,








We have in him our redemption and the forgiveness of our sins.

Know that you were redeemed from your futile way of life inherited from your fathers. [The redemption] was not with corruptible things like silver or gold,








even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ. For by grace (loving-kindness) you have been saved.

But the two are not the same, because God's gift (spiritual endowment) is not like Adam's sin. It is true that many people died because of the sin of that one man. But God's grace is much greater, and so is his gift to so many people through the loving-kindness of the one man, Jesus Christ.

If it is by grace then it is no longer on the basis of works. Otherwise grace is not grace (undeserved kindness). But if it is of works then it is not by grace. Otherwise works are no longer works.